Do Snakes Make Good Pets?
March 1, 2022
Most of us when we think of a pet, we imagine something cute and furry. Snakes, on the other hand, are the exact opposite. They’re scaly and scary-looking. But then again, it all depends on who you talk to.
According to Luke Mitchell, owner of Crazy Critters in Edinburgh, Scotland, exotic pets like snakes allow kids to develop sensory feelings and get in touch with their emotions. This is particularly helpful for the children Mitchell works with, who are neurodivergent.
In his experience, when a non-verbal autistic child interacts with an exotic animal, especially snakes, they experience “sheer happiness and delight,” and “actually manage to say a few small sentences when in their company.” It was this reaction that inspired Mitchell to launch Crazy Critters.
Mitchell rescues and rehomes exotic animals and works with all kinds of creatures, such as meerkats and wallabies, but it was snakes that got him hooked. As a neurodivergent child, Mitchell faced challenges when it came to interacting with other children. His pet snakes made him very popular with the other kids, who loved interacting with these exotic creatures as much as Mitchell did. He told Edinburgh Live:
“Being around these animals genuinely gives me a boost of happiness. It has been scientifically proven that when petting an animal, a chemical called oxytocin is released in the brain, which is the same chemical produced when interacting with people you love.”
So what is it about snakes that make them good pets, especially for children who are on the autistic spectrum?
Snakes take up little space, are easy to care for and are very clean animals. Their tanks require little in the way of daily cleaning. Unlike hamsters and other rodents, snakes won’t keep you up at night and don’t need daily exercise. Being pretty passive animals, children can interact with them, hold them and watch them without being overwhelmed or frightened. In fact, as Mitchell pointed out, holding a snake can help to calm a child and keep stress at bay.
So what kind of snake makes a good pet?
Dr. Sharman Hoppes, clinical associate professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, “Ball Pythons, King Snakes and Corn Snakes.”
Corn snakes are harmless, non-venomous reptiles from North America. They have an orange, brown and gold checkered pattern. They live on rodents, such as mice and rats, and can live 6 to 8 years.
Ball pythons are harmless, non-venomous snakes from West and Central Africa. They have markings composed of a black, brown and gold circular pattern. They live on rodents and small birds and can live up to 30 years.
King snakes are harmless, non-venomous snakes from North America. They have a black, white and scarlet striped pattern to their skin. They live on lizards, rodents, birds and eggs. They can live up to 20 to 30 years.
What kind of snakes do not make good pets?
Large snakes, such as boas and pythons that belong in the rainforest.
For the right person, a snake could make a great pet. But like with any pet, do some research into the different kinds and what it takes to care for such an animal before you make a decision.